MANCHESTER'S only specialist clinic for anorexics and bulimics with potentially fatal conditions is under threat of closure to save NHS cash.

The move to axe the Chorlton centre is part of a cost cutting exercise being waged across the city's mental health institutions to cut their budget by more than £800,000.

Other units under threat include one for the homeless and one which helps Asian people with mental disorders.

More than 20,000 people called a helpline after Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw spoke of her plight and she later set up an organisation - The Tracy Shaw Foundation - which aims to offer education and advice to those most at risk.

Senior MP Keith Bradley and a local GP have both expressed their concern over the report, which says the Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust is being forced to slash its budget by two per cent - roughly £828,000.

It states: "While the Care Trust has explored various options to identify where savings can be released from, there is a shortfall which it is proposed to meet by reviewing services."

While it is hoped there will be no compulsory redundancies under the plans it is clear some staff would leave and services would suffer.

Many staff are known to be unhappy about the proposals, which come at a time when the government says it is providing unprecedented funding for the NHS.

Withington MP Keith Bradley has written to the Trust expressing his concerns.

Trust Chief Executive, Andrew Butters, admitted that some of the changes could cause a 'dilution' of the services offered, but he insisted the skills of the medical staff involved would remain available to patients.

Three nurses currently work at the eating disorders clinic based in Chorlton and have more than 250 patients referred to them each year.

Typically, adult patients can weigh as little as four stones and many can be expected to die either from complications or suicide.

One health care specialist said: "The unit is already run on a shoestring without a consultant and is under huge pressure. The nurses there are very specialised and support each other. To split them up would be a grave error."

Local GP Dr Connie Chen has referred several patients to the clinic in recent years.

She said: "This unit has been very supportive to patients with eating disorders and should not be dismantled."

An NHS spokesman said: "While trusts are being asked to deliver efficiency savings, everything is being done to protect patient services."